Why a Travel Section?

(I mean…everyone loves to travel)

Nothing could prepare me for the culture shock of moving from the west coast to the east. My trips to the slums of Bangladesh did not shock me as much as leaving LA for college in rural Pennsylvania. I could not believe that people from the same country as me, could be so different (socially and politically).

Travel is my investment in myself to broaden my emotional intelligence. Yes, travel is fun; yes, travel is a form of escapism; and, yes, I can read HBR’s quarterly publications on EQ instead of taking a flight halfway across the world. I won’t deny that.

But nothing has been as powerful as the feeling of utter discomfort by being in a culture and country so different from my own and seeing first hand how different cultures, religions, and ideologies affect how people interact with one another.

I’ve kept the lessons I’ve learned on my trips to myself. Instead, I hope you can cherish in the specific memories that I hold dear to my heart.